Paula McCarty
Born in Perry, IA
Lives and works in Champaign, IL
Education
2009 MFA
California State University, Long Beach (CSULB)
1999 BFA
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Solo & Two-Person Exhibitions
2024 Under a Milk Moon
Springer Cultural Center, Champaign, IL
2022 Women Who Painted
McLean County Arts Center, Bloomington, IL
2020 Women Who Painted
Artist of the Corridor, Public Arts Program, Urbana, IL
2002 Launch Celebration
Champaign County Arts Council, Champaign, IL
Group Exhibitions
2026 Art is Travel Collective
TRYST Art Fair, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA
2026 Illinois All-State Exhibition
Giertz Gallery, Parkland College, Champaign, IL
Juror: Misa Jeffereis
2025 This is Where I’m From
Sola Gallery, San Pedro, CA
2022 Illini Past and Present
Illini Union, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
2022 35th Northern National Art Competition
Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
2018 1868 Collection Inaugural Exhibition
Busey Wealth Management, Urbana, IL
2018 Illinois at 200
Giertz Gallery, Parkland College, Champaign, IL
2017 Around the Block
Giertz Gallery, Parkland College, Champaign, IL
2016 Parkland College 50th: Art & Design Alumni Exhibition
Giertz Gallery, Parkland College, Champaign, IL
2015 Around the Block
Giertz Gallery, Parkland College, Champaign, IL
Juror: Aron Packer, Packer Schopf Gallery, Chicago, IL
2010 Recent Paintings
Peters & Bach, Long Beach, CA
2008 Approaching Memory
The Loft, San Pedro, CA
2008 Paintings from the Permanent Collection
Parkland Art Gallery, Champaign, IL
2008 Insights
University Art Museum, California State University, Long Beach
1999 Growing up Post Modern
Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL
Curator: Barry Blinderman
1999 12th Annual Northern National Art Competition
Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
1999 ARC Regional VI Exhibition
ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL
Awards
2026 Illinois Arts Council FY26 Creative Accelerator Fund Grant
2019 Grant Recipient, Urbana Arts Grants Program for Women Who Painted Exhibition
2008 Marilyn Werby Memorial Thesis Exhibition Grant
California State University, Long Beach
1999 Juror’s Award, 12th Annual Northern National Art Competition
Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI
Juror: Christopher Brown
Selected Professional Experience
2026–27 Guest Curator (Forthcoming)
Material Affections: Explorations in Still Life
Giertz Gallery, Parkland Community College, Champaign, IL
2017–present Designer & Curator of Exhibitions
Springer Cultural Center, Champaign, IL
2021–24 Exhibitions Coordinator
Giertz Gallery, Parkland Community College, Champaign, IL
2012–present Painting Instructor
Parkland College Non-Credit Courses, Champaign, IL
Selected Presentations & Artist Talks
2021 Virtual Artist Talk
Giertz Gallery, Parkland College, Champaign, IL
2020 Virtual Artist Talk
Urbana Arts & Culture Program and The Urbana Free Library, Urbana, IL
2020 Guest Lecturer
P.E.O. International Women’s Organization, Champaign, IL
2018 Gallery Talk, Illinois at 200 Exhibition
Giertz Gallery, Parkland College, Champaign, IL
Selected Interviews & Media
2020 UPTV6 Interview for Women Who Painted Exhibition
Artist of the Corridor
2020 WEFT Radio Interview with Cope Cumpston
Womyn Making Waves
Collections
Parkland College
Champaign, IL